The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach said on Wednesday that the organisation's "zero tolerance policy" would be applied if allegations of Russian state-supported doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics are proven.

Implicated individuals could face lifelong bans from the Olympics. The IOC has asked the World Anti-Doping Agency to carry out a full investigation with plans to retest Sochi samples stored at the lab in Lausanne, Switzerland. Bach said the results of WADA's investigation will greatly influence the participation of Russian athletes in Rio.

The IOC President also said financial sanctions could be imposed upon involved organisations, which could also extend to the "suspension or exclusion of entire national federations." But he stopped short on stating whether such action would be extended to Russia's entire National Olympic Committee. Bach called on anyone with information on doping to speak to WADA to assist in their inquiry into the matter.